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© 2013 The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
518 comments Add your comment
Jay212033
April 4th, 2009
2:28 pm
Has anyone noticed lately our offense has not been putting up too many hits? Like yesterday 3 runs on only 4 hits, and the day before against the Astros AAA team 2 runs on like 3 hits and today only 1 hit.
John Adcox
April 4th, 2009
2:31 pm
Hey KC, thanks for the invite. I have a script deadline, but if I get enough pages done, I’m planning to drop by.
DirtyDawg
April 4th, 2009
2:31 pm
I wonder if Kawi-whathisname’s contract allows them to send him down (out) to AAA? Is he like a rookie with a number of minor league options? I mean, if Hanson’s just sitting there waiting for the first shoe to drop, e.g., the first starter to suck a couple of games in succession, would they be able to move this guy?
cabravesfan
April 4th, 2009
2:34 pm
HR Francoeur! That’s encouraging
Carroll Rogers
April 4th, 2009
2:35 pm
That’ll make the Braves feel better today….Jeff Francoeur home run, second of the Grapefruit League season, 0-1 fastball to left center. followed by a Matt Diaz double off the base of the wall in right center.
radoncbravesfan
April 4th, 2009
2:35 pm
frenchy mashes a homer, diaz not to be outdone rockets one to the right center wall
William
April 4th, 2009
2:36 pm
Ok Francoeur haters. SPEAK UP!!
Mekons
April 4th, 2009
2:36 pm
Gotta be encouraged by Tommy and Frenchy!
cabravesfan
April 4th, 2009
2:36 pm
Francoeur’s also got 2 of the 3 hits…
Brandon
April 4th, 2009
2:37 pm
Diaz steals 3rd bad throw Diaz scores.
Smyrna Jim
April 4th, 2009
2:37 pm
Diaz steals third, scores on a bad throw!
Carroll Rogers
April 4th, 2009
2:38 pm
the new slim and trim Matt Diaz is swiping bases, and just scored on a throwing error. it’s 4-2 Tigers
cabravesfan
April 4th, 2009
2:39 pm
and Schafer draws a walk…inning coming apart for Detroit
Il Cattivo
April 4th, 2009
2:39 pm
Wonder if Schafer will steal!! They got the pitcher rattled. might as well.
DirtyDawg
April 4th, 2009
2:39 pm
Damn, am I going to have to take back all I said about Francouer before I’ve even said it? Got to admit the kid’s bat looks a hellovalot quicker than it did all of last year…it may just be me, but it did. And wow, what’s with the new ‘run till they throw you out’ Diaz fellow. The new body has got him feeling really frisky.
They seem to be explaining JF’s new swing (I’ve got the sound down so I’m not really sure) but it looks like he’s taking a much shorter stride and letting his hands, wrists and forearms generate the speed…again, just me.
William
April 4th, 2009
2:40 pm
It’s 5-2 Carrol. You watching the same game?
Jay212033
April 4th, 2009
2:41 pm
5-2 Carroll.
James
April 4th, 2009
2:42 pm
7 haters……….shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
Bill in VA
April 4th, 2009
2:43 pm
Dice-K gave up 4 BB in 3 innings, so far. Must be cherry blossom season!
Bill in VA
April 4th, 2009
2:45 pm
Dice-K gave up 4 BB in 3 innings. Must be cherry blossom season.
Bill in VA
April 4th, 2009
2:46 pm
Sorry.
Last chance to try out stuff!
N Nine
April 4th, 2009
2:47 pm
Frenchy! Thats 2 HRs more than David Wright
Carroll Rogers
April 4th, 2009
2:48 pm
nice play by Kotchman. gotta love the glovework over there.
Jay212033
April 4th, 2009
2:48 pm
Is it me or does Frenchy look like Buddy Carlyle?
Bravos
April 4th, 2009
2:49 pm
No one is a Francouer hater. He just isnt very good at baseball.
Bravos
April 4th, 2009
2:51 pm
Again no one hates him. Last year he WAS THE WORST EVERYDAY PLAYER IN BASEBALL. Thats what we hate. I hope he turns it around but I will wait and see.
KC
April 4th, 2009
2:51 pm
Maybe this is a little unreasonable of me… but I have just a bit of a problem with Boog. I mean, if you work for the Braves, shouldn’t you be just a little bit of a homer?
I disagree with Boog’s expectation that the Braves will miss the playoffs, and I think if everything’s close to equal, you’ve got to pick your team to do something. But that’s not what bothers me. What DOES bother me about Boog is that I don’t get the impression that he thinks of the Braves has HIS team. It seems like he considers the Braves to be the team he works for. No real allegiance. I don’t like that in a local announcer.
I don’t think an announcer should lose all objectivity and become a cheerleader. Not at all. But a little bit of allegiance would be nice. I think, through the years, Braves announcer have had a level of devotion to the Braves, while remaining realistic about the team and its strengths and weaknesses.
I don’t get the feeling from Boog that there’s any real devotion at all. Kind of a hired-hand mentality.
PWHjort
April 4th, 2009
2:54 pm
He doesn’t work for the Braves, KC. He works for the company that produces the broadcasts (Fox Sports Network, I believe). I do think Boog could stand to be a bit more of a homer, but I like him a lot more than Joe Simpson. Simpson is pretty dumb. Boog is very smart and knows what he’s talking about.
mbatl
April 4th, 2009
2:57 pm
KC, when I learn that all announcers paid by the Braves are gonna pick the Braves to win, I’ll quit listening to their predictions. I appreciate your passion (really!), but I don’t want Boog, Don, or anyone else pulling punches.
Meanwhile, Hanson’s getting pounded. That’s no fun.
DirtyYuni
April 4th, 2009
2:57 pm
Whoops.
Eric B
April 4th, 2009
2:58 pm
I’m a little worried about KK, he hasnt exactly lit it up this spring. I know many have talked about moving Vasquez if Hudson comes back and we pick up his option but it looks like KK may be the lesser SP imo.
Bravos
April 4th, 2009
2:58 pm
Welcome to the majors Mr. Hanson
Name
April 4th, 2009
2:58 pm
No one is a Francouer hater. He just isnt very good at baseball.
The Francoeur pollyannas can never accept that. Guy is an out-making machine.
Logan
April 4th, 2009
2:59 pm
mlb.com is giving a free preview of their new mlb player which may interest braves fans outside the local viewing area. Just an option for those of us deprived of television access to braves games this year. Viewer is quite clear and my dsl lite service is handling it quite well. WARNING: Of course the only games offerd today for preview are mets and yanks. Tough pill to swallow but at least you get a look at the new ballparks and an idea of what brave games would look like on the mlb.com viewer. Quick registration is required. No obligation.
DirtyYuni
April 4th, 2009
3:00 pm
Are the Tigers this good or have been Hanson/KK been that bad today? Gameday just won’t let on.
Smyrna Jim
April 4th, 2009
3:03 pm
Hanson was instructed to take a dive today after Kawakami looked so bad, because the organization wanted to head off all the blog calls for Hanson to replace Kawakami.
PWHjort
April 4th, 2009
3:04 pm
Hanson hasn’t been sharp but he wasn’t terrible. KK couldn’t locate anything. He was just that bad.
Rob from SC
April 4th, 2009
3:04 pm
Some of the Hits off Hanson came on good pitches.
KC
April 4th, 2009
3:05 pm
mbatl, I think you missed the point of my post. I said in passing that if all else is close to equal, I think it would probably be better for Braves announcers to show confidence in their team. But I don’t expect any announcer to say something they don’t believe, or to believe something that is unrealistic. I probably shouldn’t have even said that, because it apparently detracted from my core point, which is to say that my problem is not with Boog’s picks (even though I disagree), but with his lack of any sort of allegiance to the team he works with/for every day.
When Skip Caray thought the Braves sucked, he said so. When he thought the team had a chance but was going to have a tough time winning a division, he said so. And when the thought they would win it, he said that to. He was completely honest, but there was always a loyalty to what he considered to be HIS team.
I’d like to see a trace of that from Boog. That’s all I’m saying.
bravesfan1124
April 4th, 2009
3:07 pm
Chiming in on JF – From the start last year he did not play like a major league player and his attitude sucked at times, so the “haters” were correct. Over the winter he has worked hard to correct these faults and this spring has proven he can overcome adversity. I think he will be a valuable contributor to the Braves of 2009.
DAP
April 4th, 2009
3:08 pm
i really like boog, and joe is THE MAN. they are my absolute favorite broadcast team.
objectivly, its pretty hard to pedict the NL east. i do think this divsion will produce the wild card, and the braves, phils, and mets will be 1, 2, 3 in some order. i think it all comes down to health.
i dont think hamels is going to have a good year. i think he will only make around 20 starts, but i think the phils have the grit and great offense to keep them in it, even if hamels goes down.
santana is less likely to get hurt, in my opinion, but if he gets hurt, the mets will take a big hit. i think the mets biggest problem is the character of the team. i dont think they have a good one. my honest opinion is that david wright and delgado are lone bright spots in that area, and adding shef cant help. if delgado has a bad first half like last year, it could have lasting effects on the team.
the braves have to stay healthy, and a couple of guys need to break out, which i guess is just as likely not to happen as it is to happen. the bullpen needs to get back healthy…were coming into the season a little bit shaky in the bully.
it is defeinetly going to be an interesting race.
nolie
April 4th, 2009
3:09 pm
think if everything’s close to equal, you’ve got to pick your team to do something KC
maybe he doesn’t think it’s close enough to equal to give them the benefit?. Wouldn’t be the only one to think that way.
nolie
April 4th, 2009
3:11 pm
I do think Boog could stand to be a bit more of a homer, but I like him a lot more than Joe Simpson. Simpson is pretty dumb. Boog is very smart and knows what he’s talking about. PWHjort
I don’t want him as more of a homer, I get enough of that on this board, but I do agree that Joe is flat out stoopid. I think he’s the worst announcer that the Braves have had in a long time.
KC
April 4th, 2009
3:13 pm
nolie, could be. Again, though, that wasn’t really the point I was trying to make.
Once again, my point is that just always get the sense that Boog is like an ESPN guy that just so happens to be covering a lot of Braves games… rather than a BRAVES announcer.
garlick
April 4th, 2009
3:13 pm
Frenchy making too many outs, like all the outs he made today….oh wait, that’s right, he was 2 for 2 on a day when everyone else on the team were making outs left and right.
KC
April 4th, 2009
3:15 pm
nolie & PWHjort, wow… I couldn’t disagree more completely about Joe Simpson. Joe knows the game, offers great insight throughout, and keeps a little bit of bluntness and sarcasm that would otherwise be absent after Skip’s passing. I think we’re damned lucky to have Joe. But… agree to disagree, I guess.
Rob from SC
April 4th, 2009
3:16 pm
Boog needs to go work for the Mets
N Nine
April 4th, 2009
3:17 pm
This will be the type of game we’ll see when Chipper and Mac are out. Hitting looks average at best the last two weeks..
why is Joe Dimpson getting trashed by ya’ll?
bravesfan1124
April 4th, 2009
3:17 pm
Boog is a good announcer and has well thought out opinions. Joe is a little dull although I respect his baseball experience. Let’s face it they can’t hold a candle to skip and the professor. Chip is very likeable but becomes very annoying after just a few innings, Joe is just dull. Now I see Boog is a Mets homer, that p… me off !!
mbatl
April 4th, 2009
3:17 pm
“mbatl, I think you missed the point of my post.” – KC
Yeah, I think I did… sorry ’bout that. I see your point. I was too young to know if Skip Carey or the Professor were “homers” (in a good way) when they started out for the Braves, or if that developed after a few years of covering, and living with, the team.
Like a lot of things, it’s probably changed a little, (or a lot) with the separation of team ownership and broadcasting rights, the team being covered by 2 or 3 different entities, each with their own b’casters, etc. I don’t know if we’ll ever see a team like Skip, Pete, Don and Joe in their day. (and Ernie Sr. before them).
Carroll Rogers
April 4th, 2009
3:20 pm
I think Hanson tried to go inside to Carlos Guillen and paid for it.
Kawakami said he’d never walked seven batters in nine innings, much less 2 2/3.
N Nine
April 4th, 2009
3:20 pm
I’d attack Chip before Dimpson and I love Boog. Boogie is the mann, you guys are too tough
Roman Gal
April 4th, 2009
3:21 pm
I would love to hear Boog and Jim Powell work together.
Mekons
April 4th, 2009
3:22 pm
For whomever asked, Detroit pretty much ran out its starting team; we were missing Chipper and Mac. Doesn’t excuse it (particularly the walks), but they do have a great offensive team. Defense and pitching, notsomuch.
nolie
April 4th, 2009
3:27 pm
Once again, my point is that just always get the sense that Boog is like an ESPN guy that just so happens to be covering a lot of Braves games KC
and that is just fine with me.
Chop Chop
April 4th, 2009
3:27 pm
All I know is that we effing blew the damn Grapefruit League title this year. We are the Mets of the spring, folks.
Chop Chop
April 4th, 2009
3:28 pm
KC,
Why don’t you just tape yourself calling a game? You can listen to it afterwards and get the straight story.
cabravesfan
April 4th, 2009
3:29 pm
I’d rather be the mets of srping then the mets of september
garlick
April 4th, 2009
3:30 pm
Chop Chop, who won, I couldn’t find the records.
Go Braves!!!
April 4th, 2009
3:30 pm
Inning? Score?
nolie
April 4th, 2009
3:30 pm
would love to hear Boog and Jim Powell work together. Roman Gal
there ya go, me too.
garlick
April 4th, 2009
3:32 pm
8-2 tigers, top of the 8th inning.
PWHjort
April 4th, 2009
3:33 pm
Joe Simpson is the white version of Joe Morgan. Slightly more intelligent and doesn’t run his mouth quite as much, but pretty much Joe Morgan. Joe just isn’t very well educated on where baseball is today, he’s announcing like Bobby’s managing (like it’s 1980). I just got really fed up with Joe Simpson when he kept praising Francoeur for hitting balls out of the infield even though they would be lazy fly balls. He would say things like “he hit that well, but it was right at somebody”. No, Joe. He didn’t hit that well. And please stop quoting statistics that end with the words “Batted In” or “In Scoring Position”. I don’t know, I’d just like to get a little more intellectual substance from my broadcast than what Joe Simpson is capable of bringing to the table. On your “Boog isn’t a Braves announcer” point, though, I completely agree. He’s not a home-town announcer, really. He’s kind of an import. He doesn’t give the feeling he’s a Braves announcer, he gives the feeling that he’s a kind of journeyman that was hired to fill-in. I don’t like that aspect of Boog, I do like everything else about him, though. I think he’s pretty funny. And he’s very, very smart.
bravefaninok
April 4th, 2009
3:33 pm
8 – 2 tigers top 8th
PWHjort
April 4th, 2009
3:34 pm
Roman Gal, Boog and Jim Powell would be an incredible broadcast team.
N Nine
April 4th, 2009
3:34 pm
I think Brew Crew won the Grapefruit League. As Chop Chop said, our season is finished
Chop Chop
April 4th, 2009
3:36 pm
Well, it looks like we’re about to be 21-12. The Yanks are killing the Cubs today and should finish up with a 24-10 spring. I’m using the MLB standings over on Yahoo for the spring records.
Coming into today, The Cactus League champion Los Angeles Angels are 25-8.
Roman Gal
April 4th, 2009
3:37 pm
I’m really gonna miss Pete this year. He was always my favorite. I’m glad they’ll be honoring him on opening night at the Ted. I’ll be there to cheer for him.
KC
April 4th, 2009
3:37 pm
CORRECTION: I need to correct something I said earlier. Boog IS a homer… a Marlins homer.
It was interesting when Joe and Boog gave their ROY picks… Joe went with a Brave, and Boog when with a Marlin.
Smyrna Jim
April 4th, 2009
3:37 pm
I was paying no attention to the Tiger who just singled, but then I heard that he went to William and Mary, so I have a rare opportunity here to cheer for something related to my alma mater (as long as it didn’t hurt the Braves badly).
Chop Chop
April 4th, 2009
3:37 pm
We haven’t blown the season yet, N Nine.
However, if we lose tomorrow night, the season will be hanging by a thread.
Roman Gal
April 4th, 2009
3:38 pm
So far I like Powell a lot. I really got a kick out of him making fun of Don Sutton being in the Bahamas.
KC
April 4th, 2009
3:39 pm
Chop Chop, good suggestion. Thanks. Oh wait… was that sarcasm?
Funny thing… I actually used to do that. As a kid, I wanted to be a Braves play-by-play guy. I did eventually go into radio, but not into sports radio.
Jim
April 4th, 2009
3:40 pm
DAP
pretty good analysis. But, don’t sell short the Fish. They have a lot of young talent, and more on the way.
PWHjort
April 4th, 2009
3:41 pm
Boog covered the Marlins for like 7 years I believe. I like Joe Simpsons’ Justin Verlander Cy Young pick. But, Brandon Wood ROY? Are you serious? Matt Wieters, David Price, Trevor Cahill, and Brett Anderson all coming up and you’re taking Brandon Wood? What on earth are you smoking?
Roman Gal
April 4th, 2009
3:42 pm
Grady Sizemore and Justin Verlander are two of my favorite non-Braves players.
Go Braves!!!
April 4th, 2009
3:45 pm
Score?
Mekons
April 4th, 2009
3:47 pm
Still 8-2, I think.
Chop Chop
April 4th, 2009
3:47 pm
Just friendly banter, KC
mbatl
April 4th, 2009
3:48 pm
“I don’t know, I’d just like to get a little more intellectual substance from my broadcast than what Joe Simpson is capable of bringing to the table.”
I really get a kick out of that statement, PWHjort. I often disagree with Simpson, but he’s a pretty smart baseball guy – has played the game, and has done his research. I guess you want someone from the “sabermetric community” calling baseball on tv.
scott
April 4th, 2009
3:48 pm
its a lot to a little. not a real good day for the bravos besides Francoeur’s HR.
Rob from SC
April 4th, 2009
3:49 pm
i like the looks of Medlen
DAP
April 4th, 2009
3:50 pm
jim
i dont think the marlins are too bad, and they certinly surprised last year, right? but they dont play good defense, thier pitching is young a good but unproven, and thier bullpen isnt to great. they will hit, but thats only 1/3 of the equation.
DAP
April 4th, 2009
3:51 pm
i think joe is actually very fair when he evaluates the braves, and boog seems to know alot about all the MLB teams and players, which i appreciate.
Steve from OH
April 4th, 2009
3:54 pm
KC, maybe that’s because the Marlins have a few terriffic rookies themselves? And you think the guy picking Brandon Wood as AL ROY is smarter? Don’t get me wrong, I like Wood’s bat, but better than Weiters, Price, Anderson, Cahill like PHW said? Ouch.
Chop Chop
April 4th, 2009
3:54 pm
Joe whined about the Braves playing that Sunday night game. He said it was “unfair.”
Awwwww, poor Homer Joe. His wittle team got scwewed by Major Weague Basebaw.
At least Powell’s wearing a suit. Don doesn’t seem to realize that isn’t working for TBS anymore.
NEW CARS
April 4th, 2009
3:56 pm
Some of those guys probably won’t be in the running because they are starting in the minors which means they will be behind Wood.
Jim
April 4th, 2009
3:57 pm
The Marlin starting pitching was young and unproven last year. They proved themselves to be quite good. Their bullpen is a big question, but their rotation matches up with the rest of the division (- Nats), and could have better depth than both Phils and Mets.
Mekons
April 4th, 2009
4:02 pm
Spring training is now over. 27 hours or so to the first game that counts!
PWHjort
April 4th, 2009
4:03 pm
mbatl, that’s essentially what I want. I consider Boog to be part of the “sabermetric” community. I’d like for the color analyst to be from that school of thought as well. I’m probably in the minority in that desire though, so I’ll take 1/2 in Boog and not complain.
N Nine
April 4th, 2009
4:06 pm
NEW CARS hit list:
Metro Men
Sniper 69
Entire Troll family
EatPhillie
Andershe got spared after further reviewLou Vales
Please update us NEW CARS, I cann count on you buddy
mbatl
April 4th, 2009
4:10 pm
“so I’ll take 1/2 in Boog and not complain.”
Weren’t you already complianing?
Go Braves!!!
April 4th, 2009
4:12 pm
Is the game over?
PWHjort
April 4th, 2009
4:13 pm
Nah, just discussing and stating my opinion.
KC
April 4th, 2009
4:13 pm
I like Fred Hickman just fine, but I wish he’d lose the damned earring. Call me old fashioned, but I don’t think that’s something you wear during a professional broadcast.
Chop Chop
April 4th, 2009
4:14 pm
By the way, Brian Jordan has our built-in excuse for tomorrow night:
Lowe’s hands might be too dry to get a good feel for his sinker.
Jordan also thinks Kawakami might be in trouble. That ain’t being a homer. That’s being a Debbie Downer.
PWHjort
April 4th, 2009
4:14 pm
Cahill and Anderson will start the year in the rotation and I’m pretty sure Wieters and Price will get enough PA’s and IP’s to qualify for ROY.
mbatl
April 4th, 2009
4:15 pm
“I just got really fed up with Joe Simpson when he kept praising Francoeur for hitting balls out of the infield even though they would be lazy fly balls. He would say things like “he hit that well, but it was right at somebody”. No, Joe. He didn’t hit that well. And please stop quoting statistics that end with the words “Batted In” or “In Scoring Position”. I don’t know, I’d just like to get a little more intellectual substance from my broadcast than what Joe Simpson is capable of bringing to the table.” -PWHjort
sounds like complaining to me.
KC
April 4th, 2009
4:16 pm
Spring’s officially over!!!!! Let’s get it started!!
Tom O'Hawke
April 4th, 2009
4:19 pm
Chop Chop, why did Jordan think Kawakami is in trouble? He’s not saying that because of one bad spring outing, is he?